May 11 wrap-up: Episcopal address, more Rule 44 debate

5/11/2016

A day after the celebratory tone of opening worship came a reminder that General Conference is one big, long meeting. As delegates got down to business, debate over one of the Rules of Order will stretch into a third day while the episcopal address urged United Methodists to “trust God and go.”

In the episcopal address on May 11, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer laid out a path for the 2016 United Methodist General Conference: humility, humility, humility.

Members of Signatur, a choir from Norway, sing during morning worship on May 11 at the 2016
United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UMNS

“Everyone here is a child of God. Any behavior to the contrary of that truth undermines the Gospel and is a choice to live beneath our privilege,” he said.

Palmer, bishop of the West Ohio Area, said his speech was an opportunity to set the tone for the gathering.

Many issues before the denomination’s top legislative assembly will require delegates to vote on difficult subjects such as human sexuality, divestment, and the denomination’s budget.

“Our capacity to turn on each other is destroying the soul of this church and underserving the mission,” he said.

Palmer said too many United Methodists are fearful about the survival of the church as an institution.

“Our theme and our mission statement are a rallying cry to get out, act together and get focused on what God is focused on — which is nothing less than new creation for people, nations, cultures and the earth,” he said.

Rule 44 deferred again

While Palmer alluded to the difficult issues General Conference must vote on, the way delegates will vote has proven the most difficult subject so far.

But he and the Rev. Tom Herring, legislative chair of that group, will mainly work the committee rooms, monitoring all legislation that could have bearing on local pastors.

Mahaffey and Herring are monitoring about two dozen petitions.

Only one is what they consider hostile. It would let local pastors continue to serve on boards of ordained ministry and district committees on ordained ministry, but would remove their right to vote.

“We definitely don’t want any privileges removed,” Herring said.

Will GC2016 embrace Christian conferencing?

General Conference delegates spent two hours on May 11 on Christian conferencing, the practice of engaging in respectful and honest conversations. Leaders expressed hope that the session will set the tone as legislative committees begin meeting.

The 864 delegates met with their respective committees to share details about themselves, their ministry settings and their own ideas about living out the mission of The United Methodist Church. In groups of 12 sitting around round tables, the discussions among some of the groups evolved into relaxed, respectful conversations over the two-hour period.

“This process we’re doing here shows there is hope that we can do things in a different way,” said Andreas Elfving, a delegate from Finland-Sweden. “Perhaps we can focus less on demonstration and find things we have in common.”

Delegates of color

Participants received the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race’s “How to Be an Interculturally Competent Delegate at the 2016 General Conference” booklet, designed to help delegates build relationships across the diversity of peoples and cultures represented at General Conference.

AIDS Vigil

In a response of love and prayer, the 35 million people who have died of AIDS were remembered in a vigil May 11 outside the Oregon Convention Center as the 2016 General Conference is meeting to decide church law for the next four years.